Congratulations to our Class of 2022

Congratulations to our Class of 2022! As we close this academic year, I am proud to report that, thanks to your support, the 77 graduates of the Class of 2022 are poised to join the oral health workforce of approximately 200,000 people in South Carolina and beyond. Fifty providers plan to move directly into private practice, associateship or the armed forces, and 27 have been accepted into residencies, internships or research fellowships. Please join me in congratulating our newest alumni!

This class joined us just before the rise of COVID-19, and so perhaps more uniquely than any other class, they have adapted to changes – both temporary and lasting – in education and health care through every curve of this pandemic. I assure you; This class possesses strong resolve and an aptitude for innovation that will undoubtedly make a positive mark on our profession.

Not only were we glad to be back in person for didactic and clinical instruction this year, but we are also incredibly proud of and grateful to our students, staff and faculty for maintaining a safe environment for our patients in our dental clinic. Of course, there were many more accomplishments to celebrate this year, including the addition of new faculty, hosting Dr. Rena D'Souza, director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, for our annual Scholars Day and the election of third-year student Sammy Huynh to vice president of the American Student Dental Association.

Also, support of the MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine grows ever stronger, even in challenging times! Today, I am pleased to announce the Dr. Dorothea G. Taylor Dental Alumni Association Scholarship. Named in honor of the college’s first African American female graduate, the four-year scholarship will be presented each year to an underrepresented minority dental student. Developing scholarship opportunities for all our very deserving students is of the utmost importance. We are elated by the Alumni Association’s forward-thinking endowment of this scholarship. There are many other scholarships in the pipeline, and we remain grateful to you, our steadfast supporters.

Thank you for your staunch commitment to education, research and patient care with us. I remain indebted to our staff and faculty for their tireless work in uncertain times. As we continue to provide an outstanding education and hold tuition rates steady for what will be the fifth year in a row with our incoming Class of 2026, I believe that bright days lie ahead for the College of Dental Medicine. And we couldn’t do it without you! Thank you for support and generosity.

Class of 2022 by the numbers

Graduates – 77

Expected plans after graduation